Arts In Medicine

It was the summer of 2009, I was staying at my friend’s farm, a 300 acre paradise near Asheville, N.C. Every day, I would walk the trails through meadows, forests, and ridge tops. For several weeks, I began to notice the two horses, a black mustang, and a white mustang, who would appear and disappear from view each day. Over the course of several weeks, I began to notice the black one, especially at dusk, near the fence. I began to notice how thin he was becoming, and how he would always be there, against the fence at the same time, as if he was trying to get my attention. After 3 weeks, I felt as if he was communicating his need for help, and for food and water. The white one did not come to the fence, but I could feel that he, too, was looking at me each day when I was ending my walk.

I saw Mary, a friend who also lived on the farm, and communicated my concern for the horses, and how thin they had become. She, too, expressed concern, and we began to try feeding them grasses, and apples, and carrots. Several days later, we decided to move them out of the place where they were, because they were obviously not getting nourishment where they were. The next morning, the people who had abandoned the horses came to pick them up. Mary ran over to where I was staying to ask for help in communicating concern for their lack of care. The owners said, you can have them. So Mary took possession of them, and I said that I would help in whatever way that I could help. During the summer, Mary suffered a great loss of losing her life Partner, Frank. The horses remained in the pasture behind her house, and were a great comfort to her. In the early fall, it was time for the horses to find a new home. Mary tried many different agencies, advertisements in publications, and numerous other avenues, until finally releasing her attempts for help, and calling the animal shelter.

Mike, at the Madison county animal shelter was so knowledgeable, and helpful. I asked if he would wait one more week, while I made one more attempt at trying to find the horses a home. I called my neighbors in Leicester, and everyone else I could think of that might take these beautiful creatures. Finally, after meditating, praying and asking for help, I found Mustang Alley, a horse rescue located in Greenville Tennessee. I spoke with Kathy Grant, the CEO and founder about the horses, and she said, “Yes, we will take them.”

Kathy not only came to rescue “Midnight,” the black mustang, and “Sky,” the white mustang, but she also rescued a female horse at the Madison county animal rescue, and had her in the trailer as well. I could not believe my eyes when I saw her in the field like a true horse whisperer, coaxing “Sky” to come to her. After several attempts, she had “Sky” eating out of her hand, and put a bridle on her. The next great feat was seeing her put all three horses in a trailer together, with a calm and peaceful voice, and never a harsh word. I vowed that day to help Kathy Grant and “Mustang Alley Horse Rescue,” as I feel that she is one of those extraordinary people who has not asked for support, and yet needs all of the support that we can offer. She is doing amazing work, not only rescuing horses, but also has established a way to empower women who have experienced domestic violence, as well as to fund partial care for the 26 horses that she has rescued, by providing rides to at risk kids, and people of all ages. To make a long story short, Kathy Grant has a huge heart that extends outward in the realm of animals, as well as people. She has established a 5013C, and in 2010, will be accepting donations of love and support for the horses. If you would like to help, please visit her web site.